Exposed

Jail for lover who stabbed his rival

A JEALOUS lover who stabbed a rival after arranging to meet him in Victoria Square has been jailed for three years and four months.

Martin Glendening, aged 41, of Charles Street, Farnworth, stabbed Jon Lambert in the chest and elbow because he believed his partner was in a relationship with them both, Bolton Crown Court heard yesterday.

Mr Lambert had an emergency operation to have his spleen removed after the stabbing and is now expected to have a lower immunity to infections because of his injury.

He had to stay in hospital for several days.

Guy Mathieson, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court yesterday that the attack happened in the Bolton town centre square on May 26 last year.

The court heard that Glendening had been on the phone to Mr Lambert, who is from Blackburn, trying to direct him to Halliwell.

As Mr Lambert passed the phone box he was calling from, Glendening leapt out and attacked him in Victoria Square.

Mr Lambert at first thought he was being punched, but then realised he was bleeding when he felt liquid pouring down his leg.

He was stabbed in the left side of his chest and suffered “superficial injuries” to his elbow.

The court heard the defendant claimed he brought a knife with him after Mr Lambert threatened to use a machete in text messages.

Glendening, who has 45 convictions for 85 offences, admitted unlawful wounding on the day of his trial.

Eric Lamb, defending, said the victim and the defendant were meeting to “clear the air”, but it resulted in disaster for all involved.

Glendening was said to bitterly regret the crime, which has caused the breakdown of his relationship with his girlfriend.